Leaving behind decades-old social rules, Saudi Arabia is at a turning point for the first time since 1979 when conservative laws and norms were initially enforced.
Nowadays, families in Saudi Arabia look forward to going to the movies as the first of planned 2,000 cinemas is due to open in March. As described in the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's Vision 2030, things are moving ahead.
Discussing the significance of these steps, the Saudi Culture Minister Awwad Alawwad explained, "This is a watershed in the development of the cultural economy in the kingdom. Opening cinemas will act as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification.
"By developing the broader cultural sector, we will create new employment and training opportunities, as well as enriching the kingdom's entertainment options."
Diversifying the Saudi economy had also become a necessity, keeping in mind the plunge in global oil prices since 2014. With "Vision 2030," Saudi Arabia is set to change fast as it encourages female employment.
Not only that, the removal of the driving ban on women makes Saudi Arabia more attractive for foreign executives and highly skilled professionals that were reluctant to move in before, and this, in turn, will help the manufacturing and industry sector.
Luckily, in recent years, the Saudi government had sent thousands of women out to study in Western universities and the healthier job market awaits their return. Women have also participated in local council elections and a lawyer, Bayan al-Zahran, has set up the first female-led law firm. Right now, only 18 percent of working-age Saudi women work compared to 65 percent of men.
Thrilled by the wave of freedom and emancipation, Saudi women are now experimenting with the novelty owning and driving a car. It was only last year that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, did away with the driving ban on half the population.
This effectively empowers women to run their own businesses, work and study given that a driving license is absolutely essential in the world today. Since decades, this ban had discouraged many women from using their talents and contributing to the economy.
Exclusivecar showrooms for women have already started opening in shopping malls five months before the ladies finally take to the roads. Ghada al-Alifrom Jeddah said, "I've always been interested in cars, but we didn't have the ability to drive. Now, I'm very interested in buying a car. But I would like the payments and prices to not be very high."
Value-added tax (VAT) has just been introduced, and, with a rising cost of living, the focus is turned to more fuel-efficient cars.
Family entertainment is being provided to discourage Saudis from spending money abroad, at the same time as the country's doors are being opened to attract more tourists. Theaters, movies, sports galas and concerts get people out of their houses to spend their cash at eateries and coffee shops, which helps create many new jobs.
One of the very first movies to be officially released is a Pakistani action/thriller-comedy Parchi, due for release on January 19 after a private screening. Jane Kinninmont, an expert on Saudi Arabia from the British research organization Chatham House, wryly observed that having cinemas might even help create jobs by increasing demand for censors who edit content that could be deemed offensive.
In another first, women spectators have been allowedin sports stadia. Recently in Jeddah, women attended Saudi professional League games at the King Abdullah Sport City stadium, after special "family sections" were added with ladies' restrooms and separate parking lots.
In the following weeks, women were also allowed to watch a soccer game in Riyadh. This is to be a constant feature according to the Saudi General Sports Authority, which announced preparations for "three stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Damman to be ready to accommodate families from early 2018."
Encouragingly, the first Saudi princess to lead the Saudi sports federation,Princess Reema has called for more Saudi women to follow her lead.
Locals recall that Saudi Arabia used to be different in the past, especially in the 1930s when Abdul Aziz, founder of Saudi Arabia, reigned, women would ride horses and bring merchandise to sell in markets.
At a festival in Jeddah, the colorful costumes worn by women from those days were on display to remind Saudis of their rich and varied culture as opposed to the stricter version practiced in the last few decades. Change is definitely in the air, and with a young population in the majority, Saudi Arabia is a country breathless for progress.
Sabena Siddiqui (Twitter: @sabena_siddiqi) is a foreign affairs journalist and lawyer based in Pakistan. China.org.cn
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